Music you've never heard….'til now! A blog of rare, hardly-heard or remembered pop, hip-hop, R&B, freestyle and dance music from the 80s and 90s. From one-hit wonders to no-hit wonders, this blog has it all!!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Innocence was a British R&B band that was fronted by singer Gee Morris and featured guitarist Mark Jolley, singer Anna Jolley, percussionist Brian Harris, Mattie on the synthesizer and producer Phil Dane.

Gee Morris started out in the music business in 1988 with a high energy remake of the Isley Brothers' song "This Old Heart Of Mine" that was produced by Ian Levine.

She later did backing vocals for artists such as Stevie Wonder, the Pet Shop Boys, and Donny Osmond.

Because of her session work, Gee was noticed by British music production trio Jolley/Harris/Jolley, who were in the midst of recording demos
for Innocence.

In 1990, Innocence released their debut single "Natural Thing" which peaked at #16 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

During that same year, they released their debut album "Belief" which peaked at #24 on the U.K. Albums chart.

The second single "Silent Voice" peaked at #37 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 5 weeks.

Innocence's third single "Let's Push It" peaked at #25 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks.

In the United States, the song peaked at #21 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart, #31 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #39 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.

The fourth single from the album "A Matter of Fact" peaked at #37 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

The last single from the album "Remember the Day" peaked at #56 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 2 weeks.

In 1992, Innocence released their last album to date "Build" which peaked at #66 on the U.K. Albums chart.

The first single from the album "I'll Be There" peaked at #26 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 3 weeks.

The second single "One Love in My Lifetime" peaked at #40 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for 2 weeks.

The last single from the album, the title song, peaked at a low #72 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for only a week. After that, Innocence disbanded.

In 1994, Gee Morris released her self-titled solo album in 1994 which wasn't successful. According to a post about Gee on the Isle of Deserted Pop Stars blog back in 2008:

"She [Gee] has not recorded an album since, but according to her Myspace page, she has continued working
extensively, most recently recording with the man that started it all, Ian
Levine."

Dionne Farris (born in 1968 in Bordentown, New Jersey) is a female R&B singer. She started out singing in high school, performing in her school's choir, and starred in a production of "Annie." After that, she sang solo and with a female vocal group named Onyx.

In 1990, Dionne moved to Atlanta to live with her dad and began dating drummer Rasta Don, who was an early member of music group Arrested Development.

The group was looking for a female singer and even though she wasn't an official member of Arrested Development, she provided vocals on their debut album especially on their hit song, "Tennessee" which caused not only media attention, but personal conflicts with Arrested Development member, Speech which caused Dionne to leave the group in 1993.

Chrysalis Records offered Dionne a solo record deal, but she turned it down, hoping for more artistic control than the record label wanted to give her.

She contacted funk/rock band, Follow For Now members, David Harris and Milton Davis, & Dionne collaborated with David on music material. Her demo made it to Sony Music.

In October of 1994, Dionne released her debut album "Wild Seed, Wild Flower" which peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.

Dionne's first single "I Know" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1995, #2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in June of 1995, and topped Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart in April of 1995, becoming Dionne's biggest hit.

In the U.K., the song peaked at #41 on the U.K. Singles chart.

The song was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" in 1996. She also appeared as the musical guest on the April 8, 1995 episode of "Saturday Night Live" with Damon Wayans as the guest host.

During that same year, Dionne gave birth to a daughter named Tate in May. She also sang the closing song "For Once in My Life" in the film "The Truth About Cats & Dogs."

Two more singles from Dionne's debut album "Passion" and "Don't Ever Touch Me Again" were released as singles, but didn't chart at all.

In 1997, Dionne was featured on the "Love Jones" movie soundtrack with the track "Hopeless" which peaked at #23 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, staying on the chart for 26 weeks. It also peaked at #42 on the U.K. Singles chart, staying on the chart for a week.

In 2007, Dionne released her second album, "For Truth If Not Love" which is available for purchase on iTunes.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The Highland Place Mobsters were an R&B\rap group that was led by music producer Dallas Austin (who has worked with Boyz II Men, TLC, Another Bad Creation, and many more) along with singers Theophilus Glass & Derrick Culbreath and rapper Melvin Davis.

In 1992, the group released their only album on LaFace Records "1746DCGA30035" which peaked at #72 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

During that same year, Dallas formed Rowdy Records with music producer L.A. Reid even though he left the label the following year.

The first single "Let's Get Naked" peaked at #55 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks, becoming their highest chart appearance to date.

The follow-up single "Take a Dip" peaked at #77 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks. After that, Dallas Austin went on to be a full-time music producer where he continues to work today. The other members did various vocal and production work, but it's unknown what they are up to today.

Romeo (born in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) was a male R&B singer from the 80s. Not much information is given about him, but he was signed to Triple T. Records.

In 1987, Romeo released the single, a cover version of Smokey and the Miracles' song
"Ooh Baby Baby" which managed to peak at #67 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

After that, it seems as if Romeo has faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from him since.

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Reddings were an R&B band from the 80s that consisted of the late Otis Redding's sons, Dexter (who sang and played the bass) & Otis Redding III (who played guitar) along with their cousin, Mark Lockett (who played keyboards).

In 1980, the Reddings released their debut album, "The Awakening" on Believe in a Dream Records, which peaked at #174 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The first single, "Remote Control" peaked at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1980, #22 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart, and #6 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.

In 1981, the band released their second album, "Class" which peaked at #106 on the Billboard 200 and #40 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The first single from the album, "You're The Only One" which peaked at #48 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks.

The follow-up single, "Class (Is What You Got)" peaked at #63 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks.

In 1982, the Reddings released their third album, "Steamin' Hot" which peaked at #153 on the Billboard 200 and #19 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The first single, "I Know You Got Another" peaked at #71 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart and #32 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.

The second single, a cover version of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (originally sung by Dexter and Otis Redding III's father), peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1982, #15 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, and #21 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.

In 1983, the band released their fourth album, "Back to Basics" peaked at #50 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The only single to chart was "Hand Dance" which peaked at #76 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

In 1985, the band released their fifth album, "If Looks Could Kill" which peaked at #24 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The first single released from the album, "Where Did Our Love Go" peaked at #37 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart in April of 1985, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.

The second single from the album, "Parasite" peaked at #70 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart in August of 1985, staying on the chart for 8 weeks.

In 1988, the Reddings released their last self-titled album to date, which peaked at #88 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

The first single from the album, "So in Love With You" peaked at #60 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart in May of 1988, staying on the chart for 8 weeks.

The follow-up single, "Call the Law" peaked at #16 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart in November of 1988, staying on the chart for 14 weeks.After that, nothing much was heard from the Reddings.

After the band stopped recording together, Mark experimented with rock 'n' roll music and later went back to songwriting funk-oriented music.

He founded an entertainment company called Platinum Hooks Entertainment, Inc. along with Funk All Y'All Entertainment, which is a new advancing record label that nurtures other musical talents.

These days, it appears that the Redding Brothers are still active in the music business, performing live.

Process & the Doo Rags were an 80s R&B group from Buffalo, New York produced by Rick James.

The group consisted of James Hawkins (who was a former Rick James backup singer), Dennis Andrews, Stacy Lattimore (not to be confused with Stacy Lattisaw), Michael Gibson, and Henry Graham. They were known for their 1950s doo-wop style and their "processed" hairstyles.

In 1985, Process & the Doo Rags released their debut album, "Too Sharp" on Columbia Records, but didn't make the album charts.

The only single to chart from the album was "Stomp and Shout" which peaked at #73 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks.

In 1987, the group released their sophomore album, "Colorful Changes" which also didn't make the album charts.

The first single from the album, "I Promise to Remember" peaked at #80 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 3 weeks.

The follow-up single, "Call Me Up" peaked at #71 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks and #38 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart in October of 1987.

After that, it seems as if Process & the Doo Rags have faded into obscurity. Nothing much has been heard from them since.